Begovic, who turned out for Portsmouth, Macclesfield, Yeovil, Bournemouth and Ipswich before joining Stoke five years ago, wants to move to a bigger club and would provide competition for former Spain and Barcelona star Victor Valdes for the No.1 position at United.

United have upped their contract offer to De Gea to £200,000-a-week, which would make him the Premier League's best-paid goalkeeper, but are increasingly resigned to him leaving.